Card-game score indicator



May 28, 1929. w, SMITH CARD GAME SCORE INDICATOR Filed Feb. 17, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Mayzs, 1929.

C. W. SMlTH CARD GAME SCORE INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 17, 1928 Inventor ,CWS/(232%,

m /lttorny Patented May 28, 1929.

CHARLES W. SMITH, OF GREEN ISLAND, NEW YORK.

. cllD-GAME SCORE INDICALLOR.

Application filed February 17, 1928. Serial No. 254,979.

The present invention relates to indicators for card games, and has for its principal object to provide a device of this character, adapted to be interchangeably used, in connection with the playing of the games of bridge and five hundred whereby to enable a record of the score to be kept as 'the bidding `of the various players progresses, so that at all times to indicate the particular bidder, the suit in which the bid is made, and the value of the bid.

A still further object of the invention is to provide `an indicator of this character mounted in operative position, upon 'a receptacle, constituting a repository for several sets of pla-ying cards.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of this character, of a simple and practical construction, which is neat and attractive in appearance, inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the special construction and combination of the various elements comprising the invention,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing .the reversible indicating board arranged for use in playing the game of bridge.

Figure 2 is a. plan view of the reverse side of the indicating board.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view, showing one end of the board.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional vjew `through the device.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view through one` end of the receptacle upon which the game indicator is mounted, and illustrating the construction of the guide for slidably supporting the ends of the recep tacle.

Figures 6 and 7 are vertical sectional views through the removable end sections at the op osite ends of the receptacle, and

, *igure 8 is a fragmentary detail of one side of the device, illustrating the guide for the indicating pin, together `with the spring means for yieldably securing the pin in adjusted position within the guide.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the invention comprises a substantially rectangularly, relatively shallowly formed rcceptacle, indicated at 5, having each end open, and provided with a transversely disposed partition 6, intermediate its ends, whereby to separate the respective ends of the receptacle into separate compartments.

Each side of the receptacle, at each end thereof, has its ends inturned as at 7, in Figure 5 and disposed inwardly at each corner of the receptacle is a section of material 8, having its edge adjacent the inturned end 7 cooperating therewith, whereby to form a vertically disposed channel guide 9, at each side of the opening in the end of the receptacle, and at side thereof whereby to slidably receive the side edges of a removable end section 10, forming a. closure for the respective ends of each compartment. The upper edgeof each of the end sections 10 is formed with a lip 11, providing a finger grip for conveniently moving the cover section 10 into open and closed positions. 4

Asclearly illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, the ends'of the to-p section 12 of the receptacle are set below the normal upper surface of the receptacle as indicated at 13, forming a seat for a flange 14 formed along the upper edge of the removable end portion 10, so that the upper edge of said end section is disposed at a horizontal plane with the upper surface of the top 12 of the receptacle.

Upon the upper surface of the top 12 of the receptacle is arranged a guide 15 extending longitudinally slightly inwardlyfrom the side edges of the receptacle and connected at one end by a transversely disposed guide section 16, whereby to forni a continuous guide along each side and along one end of the receptacle, said guide being disposed in spaced relation with the upper surface of the top of the receptacle. The end of the guide opposite from the transverse end section 15 is open whereby to permit the insertion of a relatively flat-gaine indicating board 17, having an area substantially equal to the area defined by the side and end sections of the guides 15 and 16 respectively. The end of the board adjacent the open end of the guide is provided with an edging 18 formed of a strip of material extending in overlapping relation with rcspect to the Yu per and lower surface of the l board and o a thickness similar to the guides 15 so that when the board is fitted within the guide, the edging 18 will form a continuation of the guide at the open end thereof, whereby to form an unbroken appearance for such guide.

y in accordance with Each face of the board 17 is ruled to provide a substantially narrow border 19, entirely about the edges thereof and the center portion of the board within the area defined by the border is divided into tive equal spaces 20, each of said spaces being marked to represent in regular order the various suits contained in a set of playing cards, including the no-trump suit, employed in playing the games of bridge and five hundred. The suits are arranged in regular order according to their value, one side of the board having the suits arranged the respective values for playing the game of bridge on the opposite side, likewise having the suits arranged according to their values for playing the game of tive hundred. t

Upon the border 19 at each side o f the spaces representing the respective suits is arranged a scale representing the bid which may be made, in each suit, as shown at 22, and disposed inwardly of the numbers representing the bid is shown the corresponding value of the bid indicated at 23. l

In the top 12, along the side edge thereof adjacent that side of the board 17, having the markings representing the bid, is a groove 24, having its edge ,disposed adjacent the board provided with indentations 25, each of said indentations being disposed opposite one of the bid markings. A pin 26, is disposed vertically in the groove, having its upper end provided with an indicating finger or pointer 27, and its lower end inverted through the top of the container h aving a spring 28 attached thereto, with its opposite ends 29 arranged in spring pressed relation against the respective side walls of the receptacl-e.

It will thus be apparent that the ends 29 ofthe spring will operate to normally urge the pin 26 toward that edge of the groove provided with the indentations 25 and thus to retain the pin in any one of such indentations after the pin hasbeen moved into position therein.

Within the border 19 at the side of the board 17 opposite from the bid markings 22, may be arranged a suitable set of legends, arranged to identify each of the players. In the present embodiment of the invention such legends have been shown as representing the four major directions, nam-ely, North, South, East and W'est, as shown at 30, the position at which the player is seated with respect to the card table, corresponding with one of such directions. lVithin the top 12 of the receptacle adjacent the side opposite from the groove 24 is a similar groove 3l likewise having its inwardly disposed edge formed with a series of indentations 32, arranged opposite each of the legends 30.

An indicating arrow 33, of a construction similar to thatY of the arrow 27 is slidably arranged within the groove 31 and adapted to be moved into position opposite either of the legends 30.

An opening 3ft is formed in the top 12 of the receptacle adjacent the open end of the guide 15, whereby to permit the surface of the board 17 to be depressed tightly downwardly within such opening 34, in a manner for causing the end 18 thereof to be raised slightly upwardly out of the recess 35, formed in the upper surface of the top 12 for receiving` the strip of material 18, Whereby to permit the end of the bore to be conveniently gripped for the purpose of removing the same from the guide and reversing the board when the opposite side thereof is desired for use.

If desired, each player may be provided with one of the guide indicators comprising my invention, so that as the play progresses, each player may mark or indicate his own bid as the same is made, and the other players by glancing at each indicator, could then readily ascertain the various bids which have been made. Through the use of the invention, the playing of the game would thus be greatly facilitated, and avoid loss of time and prevent much argument as the amount of the bids of the respect-ive players is determined. f

After the bidding has been completed, the indicating arrow 27 of each player is moved tothe proper position to denote the successful bi The indicating arrow 33 at the opposite side of the receptacle is moved into proper posit-ion to denote the dealer of the hand being played.

It is obvious that the invention is susceplOO without departing g from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and I accordingly claim all such forms of the device to which I am entitled.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is:

1. A game indicating device comprising a receptacle having a guide arranged upon the surface of the top portion thereof, a game indicating board removably mounted in Asaid guide and having its opposite faces divided into sections representing the suits of a game of cards, each suit having indicia arranged along one edge thereof representing the trick bids of the suit and the value of each bid, a groove formed in the surface of thel receptacle adjacent said edge of the game v board, and having indentations formed in its edge adjacent said indicia and disposed with at least one of the -indentations opposite each of the tricks bid, represented by said indicia, legends arranged along the opposite edge of the game board Vrepresenting the respective players, a

groove formed in the top of the receptacle adjacent said legends, an indicator mounted for movement in each of said grooves, and yieldable means engaging the respective indicators for retaining the same in selective position in said indentations.

2. A game indicating device comprising ,r a receptacle having a guide arranged upon tions opposite the tricks bid represented by said indicia, said game board having legends arranged along its edge opposite from said indicia for representing the-respective players, a groove formed in the top of the receptacle adjacent said legends also having indentations formed in its edge adjacent the legend, an indicator mounted for movement in each of said grooves, each of said indicators comprising a vertically disposed pin arranged in the groove having a pointer extending horizontally at its upper end, and a wire spring carried at the lower end of the pin with its ends disposed in wiping engagement with the Walls of the receptacle Vfor yieldably urging the pin inwardly of the indentations.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES W. SMITH. 

